Mud mixing device



June 20, 1950 w. H. ENDSLEY MUD MIXING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 20, 1946 William H. En ds/ey INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS June 20, 1950 W. H. EN DSLEY MUD MIXING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed July 20, 194

QUI-

m R. u M "W Y A f 4 A \i .m o :w I Y 7 B w 4 W4 5 5 4 Patented June 20,1959 Application July 20, 1946, Serial No. 685,261

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mud mixingdevices.

In the petroleum industry, wells are normally drilled with theutilization of a drilling fluid or mud, which is pumped downwardlythrough the drilling string to flushcuttings from the drill bit, tolubricate the drill stem and to carry the cuttings to the surface of thewell. Other functions of the drilling fluid are to provide a fluidcolumn within the well bore which acts as a liquid seal, to operatecertain types of well tools and the many other varied and detailedbenefits resultant from the use of a drilling fluid having carefullycontrolled characteristics. To insure the proper physical and chemicalqualities'in the drilling fluid, it is customary to add, in varyingamounts, one or more commercialmuds such as Aquagel or Baroid, or otherof the various mud available for commercial use. Each of these mudsfulfills a more or less specific purpose, such as controlling weight orviscosity, or other characteristics of the mud. The quantity of mudadded to the drilling fluid must be carefully controlled to insureoptimum results, and it is often desirable to add more than one type ofmud at the same time.

It is, therefore, one object ofthis invention to provide an improved mudmixing device with which mud may be added to drilling fluid undercarefully controlled conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mud mixingdevice wherein a, plurality of muds may be added to the drilling fluidat the same time, and wherein provision is made for thoroughly admixingthe mud with the drilling fluid as the former is added, as well asagitating the mud before addition,

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved mudmixing device having. adjustable means for regulating the. rate at whichmud is added to the drilling fluid, said means being so arranged thatone type of mud may be added at a fixed rate while another type of mudis simultaneously added at another rate.

Yet another object of the inventionis to provide a mud mixing devicehaving an adjustable metering element for controllin the flow of mud tothe drilling fluid, said element being so constructed as tosubstantially eliminate clogging by the mud flowin therethrough, andwhich may be adjusted and locked in the adjusted position, whereby thedevice is not impaired in its action by vibration or other externalinfluences.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein an example of the invention is shown,

and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mud mixing de vice constructed inaccordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device,

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken through one of the mountingbrackets for themud hoppers, and showing the bearing members,

Fig. 4 is a vertical, cross-sectional view showing the drivingarrangement for the hoppers,

Fig. 5 is an. enlarged, vertical, sectional view of the mud line andnozzle, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, horizontal, sectional view through the lower endof one of the hoppers, showing the metering arrangement.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 .designates asupport upon which a pairof elongate mud hoppers II are carried in spaced parallel relation. Thesupport includes a rectangular base l2 adapted to rest upon the groundat the well site adjacent the mud line A. r The base I2 is provided witha pair of elongate tubular side members I3 joined in spaced parallelrelation by trans verse end members M which are secured between the sidemembers and at either end thereof. A pair of braces ['5 extenddiagonally of the base, being secured at the corners thereof andintersecting at the center of the base The elements is, I l, and I 5 maybe formed of pipe or.other suitable material, and joined in anydesirable fashion such as by welding.

A pair of relatively short, upright legs it are secured to one end ofthe base, and carryupon their upper ends a transverse, horizontal beamll. A similar pair Oflegs I8, somewhat longer than the legs Hi, aresecured to and extend vertically of the opposite end of the base. A beamIt, similar to the beam I1, is mounted upon the upper ends of the legs[8. A pair of braces 28 exfaces of the plates are inclined andsubstantially parallel to the braces 26. A small, rectangular mountingplate 22 is secured upon the braces 5 at the intersection thereof so asto be positioned centrally oi the support H5. The upper or mountingsurface of the plate 22 is inclined so as to be parallel to the bracesZll and the mounting plates 2|.

The hoppers H have elongate, tubular bodies or shells 23, open at theirupper ends and provided with a frusto-conical lower end 24 terminatingin a reduced, cylindrical neck 25 having an axial bore 26. A pair ofball bearings 21 are mounted exteriorly of each of the shells 23, so asto encircle the shells in a transverse plane. The shells have a pressfit within the inner races 28 of the bearings, one of which is disposednear each end of each of the shells so as to be in vertical alinementwith the mounting plates 2| when the hoppers are placed in position uponthe support I0. A plurality of suitable radial lugs 28 project outwardlyfrom the shells in contact with the upper sides of the bearings toprevent longitudinal movement of the hoppers. The outer races 29 of thebearings rest upon the plates 2| and are snugly engaged by U-shapedstraps 38, which encircle the bearings and are secured to the plates 2|by suitable bolts 3!. Thus, the hoppers are rotatably secured upon thesupport at an angle with respect to the surface of the ground.illustration, a pair of hoppers have been shown, said hoppers beingmounted in spaced parallel relation. It is pointed out, that anydesirable number of hoppers may be, utilized to admix simultaneously aplurality of muds with the drilling fluid.

Each hopper is provided at its medial portion withan external, grooved,annular ring 32, said rings having press fits with the hoppers or beingwelded thereto. The groove 33 of each ring is suitable for receiving aV-shaped belt 34 which encircles both hoppers so that they revolve inunison. A similar additional grooved ring or pul ley 35 is mounted uponone of the hoppers adjacent the ring 32, and receives a suitable belt36. The opposite side of the latter belt encircles a smaller pulley 3'!mounted upon the shaft of an electric motor 38 secured upon the mountingplate 22. The inclination of the plate 22 disposes the motor 38 in aplane parallel to the plane of the hoppers, so that the belt 36 runstrue and freely upon the: pulleys 35 and 31. Thus, through the belts 34and 36, 'both hoppers are revolved by the motor 323. Manifestly, anysuitable drive, such as a gear drive or chain drive,.. could be utilizedto revolve the hoppers, and a suitable. speed reducer (not shown) may beconnected into the motor to reduce the speed of revolution of thehoppers.

A foraminous disk'39 formed of mesh screening or perforated metal, isdisposed transversely of each of the-hoppers in the upper portionthereof, and held in place by a suitable annular ring 40 secured to theinner wall of the hopper. The disk acts as a screen to prevent debris,such as pieces of the sacks in which mud is packaged, from passingthrough the hopper and into the metering structure to be described.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the support positions the hoppers sothat their lower ends are disposed a foot or so above the surface of theground adjacent the mud line A. Normally, additional mud is added to thedrilling fluid as it passes from the'well head to the mud pit, althoughit could be added in the suction line to the mud pumps or byrecirculation of mud from the pit through the pumps and re- In the turnto the pit. In either instance, the drilling fluid passes through themud line A under con siderable pressure and velocity. This pressure andvelocity is utilized to mix the added mud thoroughly with the drillingfluid. A mixer fitting il in the form of a short length of pipe H, isconnected into the mud line A by suitable collars 43. A transverse disk44 is welded, or otherwise secured, within the vbore of, thepipe 42, andcarries a central opening 45 and a downstream nozzle 48. This structurefunctions to increase the velocity of the drilling fluid flowing throughthe nozzle, with a consequent reduction in pressure in the annular spaceabout the external wall of the nozzle between the disk 44 and the mouthof the nozzle.

The lower leg 47 of a suitable Y-shaped pipe fitting 48 is welded orotherwise suitably connected into the pipe 42 at this area of reducedpressure, so that the fitting is disposed laterally of the nozzledownstream from the disk 44. The arms 49 of the fitting 48 extendupwardly to the lower ends of the hop ers H. Elbows 50 are provided atthe upper ends of the arms 49, said elbows being directed upwardly andlaterally of the arms so as to receive the cylindrical necks 25 of thehoppers. The fitting 42 and the elbows 5B are of such internal diameteras to allow the necks 25 to have a snug sliding fit 30' within saidelbows. External screw-threads 5| are formed upon the upper ends of theelbows and engage suitable packing gland caps 52. Packing 53 is confinedwithin said caps to pack off the joints between the necks 25 and theelbows 50. Obviously, the caps 52 1nay be tightened sufiiciently toprevent leakage through these joints, yet allow revolution of the neckswith respect to the elbows and the fittin 42.

The necks 25 are each provided with internal screw-threads '54, and ascrew-threaded valve seat ring 55 engages therein. The rings 55 haveaxial bores 56 which are beveled at their lower ends to form taperedvalve seats 57. Small radial ports 58 extend from the bores58 throughthe rings 55 and the walls of the necks 25 to the atmosphere. Thereduced pressure within the pipe 42 causes air to flow through the ports58 to clear the valve seats of any debris or lumps of mud powder whichmay accumulate thereon.

An elongate tapered metering valve 59 extends axially of each of thevalve seat rings 55, and is provided with an elongate screw-threadedshank 50 which engages within. an internally screw-threaded boss 6|formed in one sidewall of each of the elbows 50. An eye 62 is formed in'the outer extremity of each of the shanks 60, so that the latter may beengaged and rotated to screw the valve inwardly or outwardly withrespect to the valve seats 51. 'Thus, the clearance between the valvesand the valve seats may be increased or decreased to'adjust the rate offlow of mud therethrough. Suitable packing glands.

63 are carried by the bosses 6| to pack off the shanks of the valves andprevent leakage thereby. Locknuts 64 engage the shanks outwardly of thepacking glands, and serve as jam nuts to lock the shanks againstrotation when set.

The upper or inner ends of the valves 58 carry axial screw-threaded pins=65 which engage within screw-threaded boxes 66 provided on the lowerends of elongate paddle blades 67. As shown in Fig. 1, the blades 61 area foot or so in length and extend axially of the lower portion ofv thehoppers. .Being mounted upon the valves 59, the I blades are heldagainst rotation so that as the 51 hoppers revolve the blades act asagitators to stir the mud powder and-prevent its packing oraccumulationin one portion of the hoppers. The blades also function to break up anylumps or largeparti'clesof mud, sothat a continuous and uniform flow ofmud through the metering valve is assured.

In the operation-oi this invention, mud in the form of a dry finely-divided powder similar in texture to Portland cement, is introducedinto the open upper ends of the hoppers. Usually,

one type of mud will be placed in one hopper and another type in theother. One mud may be for controlling the weight of the drilling fluidwhile the other is for reducing. the viscosity or for controlling thewater loss' of the drilling fluid.

As, the hoppers revolve, the mud moves toward the lower ends of thehoppers due to their inclined position. The paddle blade 6'5 and valve59, being held stationary, agitate and stir the mud and cause it to feedthrough the bores 26, and 56 at a uniform and continuous. rate. Thisrate may be; controlledby the position; of the valve, and obviously, thetwo hoppers may feed difierent muds simultaneously at different rates sothat, for example, ten sacks of one type of mud would be added while onesack of another type was being added.

The low pressure caused by the flow of drilling fluid through the nozzle46, acts to draw the mud through the metering valve and into thedrilling fluid stream. At the same time, air is drawn from theatmosphere through the ports 58 to prevent clogging of the valve and toaid in carrying the mud through the fitting 48 into the pipe 42.

The device is simple and positive in its operation and accuratelymeasures and meters the mud being fed to the drilling fluid. It isportable and may be moved from one well site to another with a minimumof difiiculty.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mud mixing device including, an elongate cylindrical hopper, meansfor revolving the hopper, a frame supporting the hopper in an inclinedposition, said hopper having a reduced lower end, a valve seat carriedin said lower end of the hopper, an adjustable metering valve adapted toengage said seat, said valve being held against rotation as the hopperrevolves, a drilling fluid conductor having connection through saidvalve with the hopper, and means carried by said conductor for creatinga reduced pressure to urge mud from the hopper through the meteringvalve.

2. A mud mixing device including, a support, a hopper carried by thesupport, a drilling fluid conductor connected to the hopper, a valveseat carried in the lower end of the hopper, means for revolving thehopper and the seat, a metering valve carried by the conductor andadapted to engage the valve seat, and an agitator positioned in thehopper and supported upon the valve so as to be held thereby to agitatethe mud within the hopper as the latter revolves.

3. A mud mixing device including, a support, a hopper mounted upon thesupport having one end lower than the other, means for revolving thehopper, a valve seat carried in the lower end of the hopper, said seathaving ports communicating between its face and the atmosphere, anadjustable metering valve adapted to engage said seat, a drilling fluidconductor having connection through said valve with the hopper, andmeans carried by the conductor for creating a reduced pressure to drawair through the ports and urge mud from the hopper through the meteringvalve.

4. A mud mixing device including, a support, a plurality of hopperscarried by the support, a

drilling fluid conductor connected to the hoppers,

a valve seat carried in the lower end of each hopper, means forrevolving the hoppers and the seats, a metering valve for each hoppercarried by the conductor and adapted to engage the valve seats, and anagitator positioned in each'hopper and supported upon the valve of thathopper so as to be held thereby to agitate the mud within the hoppers asthe latter revolve.

5. A mud mixing device including, a support, a hopper mounted upon thesupport having one end lower than the other, means for revolving thehopper, a drilling fluid conductor connected to the lower end of thehopper, metering means between the conductor and the hopper forcontrolling the flow of mud to the conductor, said metering means havingvent holes open to the atmosphere for admitting air to the meteringmeans, and means for holding said metering means against rotation as thehopper revolves.

6. A mud mixing device including, a portable support, a plurality ofhoppers carried by the support, means for revolving the hoppers, adrilling fluid conductor, a unitary connection between said conductorand the lower ends of the hoppers, means in said conductor for exertinga suction through said connection, a metering valve at the lower ends ofthe hoppers for controlling the flow of mud to the conductor, air ventsin the hoppers for admitting air to the metering valve to preventclogging, an agitator carried by the valve for agitating the mud withinthe hoppers, and means for holding said agitator against a rotation asthe hoppers revolve.

7. A mud mixing device including, a portable support, a plurality ofhoppers carried by the support, means for revolving the hoppers, adrilling fluid conductor, a unitary connection between said conductorand the lower ends of the hoppers, means in said conductor for exertinga suction through said connection, a metering valve at the lower ends ofthe hoppers for controlling the flow of mud to the conductor, means forholding said valve against rotation as the hoppers revolve, air vents inthe hoppers for admitting air to the metering valve to prevent clogging,and an agitator carried by the valve for agitating the mud within thehoppers.

8. A mud mixing device including, a support, a hopper mounted upon thesupport having one end lower than the other, means for revolving thehopper, a drilling fluid conductor having communication with the lowerend of the hopper,

a metering valve between the conductor and the hopper for controllingthe flow of mud to the conductor, said metering valve including a valveseat carried by the hopper and revolving therewith, and a valve coretelescoping said seat and held against rotation with respect to thevalve seat.

9. A mud mixing device including, an elongate hopper adapted to containdry mud powder, a frame for supporting said hopper in an inclinedposition, means for revolving the hopper to cause the mud powder to flowtoward the lower end thereof, a drilling fluid conductor havingcommunication with the lower end of the hopper, a metering valve betweenthe conductor and the hopper for controlling the flow of mud to theconductor, said metering valve including, a valve seat carried by thehopper and revolving therewith, and a valve core telescoping said seatand held against rotation with respect to the valve seat.-

- 10. A mud mixing device including, a support, a plurality ofhoppersmounted upon the support having one end lower than the other,means for revolving the hoppers, a drilling fluid conductor havingcommunication with the lower ends of the hoppers, meteringvalves betweenthe conductor and the hoppers for controlling the flow of mud to theconductor, said metering valves including, a valve seat carried by eachhopper and revolving therewith, and a valve core telescoping said seatand held against rotation with respect to the valve seat.

11. A mud mixing device including, a support, a plurality of hopperscarried by the support, means for rotating the hoppers to feed mudtherefrom, an adjustable metering valve connected to each hopper forcontrolling the flow of mud therefrom, said metering valves including, avalve seat carried by each hopper and revolving therewith, and a valvecore telescoping said seat and held against rotation with respect to thevalve seat.

support, a plurality of hoppers carried by the support, means forrevolving the hoppers, a drilling fluid conductor, a unitary connectionbetween said conductor and the lower ends of the hoppers, means in saidconductor for exerting a .suction to said connection, a metering valveat the lower end of each hopper for controlling the flow of mud to theconductor, saidmetering valves including, a valve seat carried by eachhopper andrevolving therewith, and a valve core telescoping said seatand held against rotation with respect to the valve seat.

H. ENDSLEY.

REFERENCES. CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France May 1,1922

